Band-cutter and feeder attachment for threshing-machines.



G. A. $TAUB. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APFLIOAIION FILED DEC. 17, 1910.

Patented Mar. 25,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

avwwnlfoz G. A. STAUB. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION PILEDDEO. 17, 1910.

. Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Elwumtoz Gear 'ge #7634111? cOLuMplA'PLANOuRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n. c

G. A. ST-AUB.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION mum DEO.17, 1910.

1,057,182. Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

- (L A; STAUB.

BAND G'UTT'ER.AND FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

' APP LIQATIQNMEILED DBQ.17, 1910.

1,057,182, Patented Mar. 25, 1913'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON. n.c.

G. A. STAUB. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION rum) DEO.17, 1910. -1,()57,1 82, Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5..

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH 60.,wAlmNoroN. D. c.

GEORGE A; STAUB, OF BEALLSVILLE, MARYLAND.

BAND-CUTTER AND FEEDER ATTACHMENT FOR THRESI-IING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

Application filed December 17, 1910. Serial No. 597,887.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, GEORGE A. STAUB, acitizen of the United States, residing at Beallsville, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Maryland, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Band-Cutter and Feeder Attachments forThreshinglvlachines, of which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to improvements in threshing machines, and hasparticular reference to automatic self-feeding mechanism for suchmachines.

The particular objects of the invention are to provide a mechanism inwhich the feed of the grain to the threshing cylinder shall beautomatically controlled by the conditions existing at the entrance endand within the operative threshing field, said mechanism operating toautomatically control the delivery of grain to the threshing cylinderwithout interrupting the speed of rotation of said cylinder. Theaforesaid mechanism is controlled by means of a speed regulating devicethrough a feeler or detector p0si- 3 tioned in the path of the grain andarranged to produce variations in the speed of the grain carrier withinprescribed limits; to automatically stop said carrier when conditionsdemand, holding it immovable during the continuance of abnormalconditions, at

'the conclusion of which it will again be thrown into operation.

' Other and further objects of the invention are to'provide a mechanismwhich is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction,readily installed, and which can be manufactured at a relatively lowcost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the invention is hereafter disclosed, my invention consists in theimproved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings. in which similar reference characters indicate similarparts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a threshing machine,the illustration being that of the feeding end when constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof so much of the threshing machine shown in Fig. 1 as is line 5-5 ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts in a differentposition. Fig. 7 is a view inend elevation and in partial section of thedetector mechanism and including the connections by means of whichstoppage of the feed is obtained. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectionalview taken through the detector. Fig. 9 is a cross section of thedetector. Fig. 10 is a view in elevation showing the stop mechanism inoperation. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional View of the specificstructure of parts of the stop mechanism.

In the drawings, 20 designates the threshing cylinder and 21 the concaveof a threshing machine, these parts being of any preferred construction,the present invention not pertaining to the construction and arrangementof any of the parts of a threshing machine excepting those in advance ofthe threshing cylinder, 2'. 0., the band cutter and feeder mechanism, itbeing understood that the cylinder and concave will be properlysupported within the frame of the threshing machine. Those parts of theframe which include the mounting of the cylinder and concave and thesucceeding portions of the machine are omitted for the sake ofclearness, it being understood that the cylinder 20 is driven at aconstant speed from a suitable source and that the shaft of the cylinderis provided with a pulley 22 from which, through drive connectionspresently described, the necessary power for operation of the parts isprovided.

.23, 23 designate the sides of the frame on which the controllingmechanism to be described is mounted, the sides being provided with allthe necessary bearings required for the mounting of the parts of thecontrolling mechanism. The particular form of this frame and the mannerin which the main portion is supported is immaterial, any preferred formor type of frame being applicable for use.

In the sides 23, at a suitable point in advance of the cylinder, ismounted a band cutter 24 of any preferred type, said band cutter havinga shaft 25 projecting from the opposite sides 23 and having at one end apulley 26 which is operatively connected to the pulley 22 by a belt 27,a suitable belt tightener 28 being provided for retaining a maximumfriction drive between the two pulleys. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that this form of drive connection is only an exemplification,as any other preferred. type, such for instance as a sprocket and chaindrive, may be employed. Mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 25 is abalance wheel or pulley 29, the hub of which is provided with a suitablecentrifugal device operative to move a member 30 of a friction drivemechanism mounted on the shaft so as to rotate therewith while adaptedto move longitudinally thereof. As shown in the drawings this device isin the form of a pair of arms 31. connected to the hub of the pulley 29and having their free ends provided with weights 32, said arms beingconnected to the member 30 by a link 33, the arms 31 being free to moveradially under the restraint of springs 3 which serve to control theoutward movement of the weighted arms. The friction drive member 30 isof any preferred type of construction, it being understood, however,that its face is preferably formed complement-a1 to that of the memberwith which it is adapted to coact, which member is preferablyhemispherical, as presently described.

It is to be understood that the particular form of centrifugal devicedescribed is illustrative only, it being necessary only that the deviceactually employed is such that the rotation of the shaft 25 will act tospread the arms 31 and by such action provide a frictional driveengagement between the member 30 and its complemental member, thismovement in the present instance being longitudinally of the shaft 25and having the eflect of carrying the member 30 in the direction of itsaXis and into and out of engagement with its 'complemental member.

35, 35 designate brackets secured to the proper side 23, within which ismounted a shaft 36 preferably extending parallel to and outside of theside 23. Loosely mounted on said shaft 36 is a support 37 preferablyformed to provide a bearing for a stub shaft 38 to the outer end ofwhich is secured the hemispherical member 39 hereinbefore referred to asthe complemental member, said shaft 36 acting as a pivot point on whichthe support 37 may be rocked and thereby move the member 39 torelatively position the point of contact of members 30 and 39 toward andfrom the axis of the member 39 represented by the shaft 38. The member39 is geared to the shaft 36 by suitable gearing, such as beveled gears40 and 41, the former being carried by the stub shaft 38 Or by themember 39, while the latter (gear 41) is carried by the shaft 36, saidgears etO and ll remaining in permanent mesh regardless of the positionof the member 39 relative to the member 30.

From the construction above pointed out, it will be readily seen thatthe threshing cylinder rotates at constant speed, and through the beltconnection 27 provides a constant speed to the shaft 25 which causes themember 30 to also rotate at such constant speed. When the parts are atrest, the balls 32 will be in such position as to retain the member 30out of contact with the member 39. \Vhen the cylinder is started thepositive drive connections between it and the wheel 29 will cause thelatter to rotate, and, with the increase of speed will gradually causethe balls 32 to be swui'ig outward with the result that the member 30 isbrought into engagement with the member 39 to drive the latter. Inasmuchthe movement of the balls and the resultant movement of the member 30will be obtained only after the shaft 25 has reached a predeterminedspeed of rotation (due to the tension of the springs 3st) the cylinderwill have reached a proper speed before any movement, whatever, of themember 39 or shaft 36 will occur. And, as will be obvious, the relativespeeds of the shafts and 36 will be determined by the point of contactof the members 30 and 39. Figs. 5 and 6 disclose the variations inposition of these two members, the position shown in Fig. 5 providing agreater speed to the shaft 36 than when the parts are in the positiondisclosed in Fig. 6, it being assumed that the speed of shaft 25 is thesame in both cases.

It is to be understood that if desired, the tension of the springs 34-may be varied in order to vary the speed at which the cylinder revolvesat the time when the contact of the member 30 and 39 is had to bring thefeeding mechanism, presently described, into operation. Such tensionvariation may be provided in any suitable manner as by the use ofsuitable adjusting screws or nuts.

The shaft 36 extends forwardly and through the medium of a worm 42 andworm wheel 43, the latter being mounted on a. shaft l mounted in thesides 23, drives a sprocket wheel 45 which in turn is connected, througha sprocket chain 46, to a sprocket wheel 47 loosely mounted on a shaftl8 mounted in the sides 23. This provides a direct drive connection fromthe member 39 to the sprocket wheel 4-7 whenever the members 30 and 39are in contact.

This direct drive connection has for its object the driving of a feedcarrier of suitable type, an example of which is shown at 49, saidcarrier being adapted to pass over and be driven by the shaft 48,suitable operative connections between the shaft and carrier beingprovided for this purpose.

To provide a connection between the sprocket wheel 47 and the shaft 48,I preferably employ the following mechanism 50 designates a dish-shapedwheel loosely mounted on the shaft 48 and which may be adjacent andsecured to the wheel 47 or form a part thereof, said wheel 50 beingprovided with internal recesses 51, each recess having a configurationcomplemental to a member 52 mounted on an arm 53 pivotally connected toa collar 54 secured to the shaft 48, said collar having means, such asan abutment 55, against which a spring 56 abuts, said spring having acontact with the arm 53, the purpose of the spring being to normallyretain the member 52 within any one of the recesses 51. By thisconstruction it will be readily understood that the drive movements ofthe wheel 47 will be communicated to the shaft 48 through the arm withits permanent engagement with the collar 54 and engagement of the member52 with a recess. This latter engagement is notintended as a permanentone, the particular structure shown being adapted, as presentlydescribed, to provide an automatic disengagement of the member 52 fromits recess and thereby permit the wheels 47 and 50 to continue movingdisengaged from the shaft 48, the latter being stopped.

Obviously the wheels 47 and 50 may be formed separateand distinct or maybe formed as a single wheel, in the former case the twowheels beingconnected together to move in unison.

The grain carrier 49, as heretofore stated, is of any preferred type,that shown in the drawings including a chain drive, the chain passingover sprocket wheels mounted on the shafts 44 and 48 and over idlersprockets 57 mounted at suitable points, one of which is in the extremeadvance of the carrier, the shaft (58) of this latter sprocket beingpositionable by a suitable chain tightener, an example of which is shownat 59.

On a shaft 60 positioned in rear of the shaft 48 and driven from theshaft 44 by a sprocket and chain drive, as indicated in Figwfi, isa'retarding device 100 which acts to prevent a free movement of thegrain to the throat of the threshing field.

As will be readily understood, the feed of the grain cannot be uniformowing to the various conditions, such as the condition of the grainitself whether wet, matted, tightly compact, heavy, or scrawny, whichpresent difliculties against such uniform feed and which tend to a moreor less choking-up of the threshing field in operation. To provide forcorrecting these conditions so as to eliminate, as far as possible thechoking-up of the threshing field, I provide a special.

form of mechanism which normally acts to control the speed of the graincarrier to effect the desired result, this change in the speed of thecarrier being provided by the rocking of the member 39. If, however,abnormal conditions arise, such as an absolute choking within the throatof the threshing field, the movement of the grain carrier isautomatically stopped by breaking the operative connection between thewheel 50 and collar 54, permitting the drive connections from thecylinder to the wheel 50 to continue operating while the shaft 48 andthe grain carrier will be held stationary until the abnormal conditionhas been relieved by the movement of the threshing cylinder. Thismechanism will now be described.

62 designates a detector mechanism which comprises a rotatable memberdriven by the shaft 36 and which is provided with movable fingersadapted to control the movements of a lever primarily adapted toposition the member 89. This rotatable member, best illustrated in Figs.7, 8, and 9, is in the form of a cylinder 63 having its ends providedwith stub shafts 64 or their equivalents, said shafts being mounted inbearings in the sides 23, one of said shafts 64 being provided with aworm wheel 65 in mesh with a worm 66 carried by the shaft 36, thisarrangement providing the drive for the detector.

67 designates each of a plurality of rods arranged externally of andspaced from the periphery of the cylinder 63, each of said rods beingprovided with a plurality of fingers 68 preferably curved in thedirection of their length, as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 9. The rods 67 arepivotally mounted and have at one end a laterally extending arm 69 atthe free end of which is mounted a roller 70.

Secured to the side 23 is a bearing member 99 having an annular flange71 which projects inwardly into the path of travel of the rollers 70,said flange being semicircular in shape and adapted to provide with aflange 71 a fixed run-way for the rollers during a portion of therotative movement of the detector to retain the fingers 68 againstaswaying movement during a period when said fingers are out of the pathof movement of the grain, the flange 71 being concentric with the flange71, and extending substantially throughout the travel path of theroller.

72 designatesan arm adapted to have a rectilinear movement on the outerface of the side 23, said arm being offset and extending through anopening in the bearing member 99, and having its inner end formed bifur-L cylinder.

cated, as at 7 3, to embrace the shaft 64, said arm having asegment-shaped portion 74 which is adapted to also form a portion of therun-way for the rollers 70, said segmentshaped portion being of a lengthto provide a contact for the rollers therewith during the entire periodoccupied by a finger 68 in passing through the path of movement of thegrain from the carrier 49 to the threshing The outer end of the arm 72is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 75 mounted on a stub shaft76 carried by the side 23, said lever having one of its arms 77connected by a rod or other suitable connection 78 to a bell crank lever79 having one of its arms connected to an arm 80 on the support 37.

As will be understood, the fingers 68 will normally travel in a fixedposition, the flanges 71 and 71 and segment 7 4: providing a runway forthe rollers 70, when the feed of the grain is such as to provide aconstant pressure of proper extent on a finger 68 as the detectorrotates, the direction of rotation being indicated by the arrow or inFig. 7. The finger will be restrained to a degree corresponding to anincreased feed and this restraining will cause the rod 67 to be rockedpivotally and cause the roller 7 O to apply pressure on the segment 74,with the result that the arm 72 is moved inwardly, rocking the bellcrank lever 75, and through the rod 78 and lever 79 shift the support 37so as to provide a relative change in point of contact of the members 30and 39, thus varying the speed of the shaft 36 and through the variousconnections the speed of the grain carrier. To render the detector moreor less sensitive in operating to change the speed, I may place on therod 78 a spring 81 positioned between one of the brackets 35 and anabutment 82 adjustable lengthwise of the rod 78, said adjustmentproviding for an increase or decrease of tension on the spring 81, saidspring acting also as a means tending to return the arm 72 to its normalor outer position.

As shown in Fig. 8, each rod 67 is provided with a plurality of fingers68 spaced apart to provide detecting means extending practicallythroughout the width of the grain path, this plurality of fingersproviding the speed changing operation just described when any one ofthe plurality of fingers carried by a rod is restrained by anaccumulation of grain in the throat of the threshing field.

As will be readily understood, the de tector structure itself beingcomparatively sensitive in action would be affected by variation in thespeed of travel of the grain being fed, with the result that anexcessive variation in the speed of the carrier might result. For thepurpose of avoiding this excessive sensitiveness, should conditionsrequire such avoidance, I provide the cylinder (53 with a plurality ofradially extending arms 83, which being fixedly held in the cylinder,act to tend to carry the grain forward and thus partially eliminate theliability of undesirable finger movements.

The operation just described provides for changing the speed of thecarrier within reasonable limits to take care of the ordinaryaccumulations or variations in the grain being fed. In order to takecare of abnormal conditions, such as accumulations of grain which wouldactually choke the cylinder and concave or materially affect the speedof the cylinder, I provide means for positively stopping the movement ofthe grain carrier while such abnormal conditions exist, and this meansconsists in pro viding an arm 84: on the lever 75, and an arm 85 on thearm 53 or the member of which the arm 53 forms a part, the arm 85projecting beyond the periphery of the wheel 50 and when the member 52is in proper engagement traveling with said wheel 50. The arm 84normally lies withoutthe path of movement of the arm 85, and remainsthereout, although movable with the lever 75 during the variationsprovided by the arm 72, until the abnormal conditions in the throat ofthe threshing field cause a linger or fingers (33 to move a distancesuliicient to rock the lever 7 5 to such an extent as to throw the arm8% into the path of travel of the arm 85, whereupon the arm 84- providesa stop in the path of movement of the arm 85 which operates to preventfurther movement of the arm 85 and member 52, so that as the collar 54;continues its movement the arm 53 will be moved against the tension ofthe spring 56, causing the member 52 to be thrown out of engagement withits recess 51, and thereby disconnecting the operative connectionbetween the collar 5 1 and wheel 50. This disconnection stops thefurther movement of the grain carrier, and at the same time permits ofthe continued rotation of the de tector with the result that, as theaccumulation of grain, which provides the abnormal condition, is takencare of b I the threshing cylinder, the successive fingers willg'adually have a less restrained movement until the arm 8% is withdrawnfrom the path of movement of the arm 85, whereupon the member 52 will becarried into one of tl e recesses 51 by the action of the spring 56 andthus again complete operative connection between the wheel 50 and collar54-. One of the particular advantages of this construction lies in thefact that during the movement of the lever 75 to the position where thearm 84 acts as a stop, the rod 78 will have been actuated to throw themember 39 to the point of greatest variation between the speed of themembers 30 and 39 with the result that the movements of the partsoperated by the shaft 36 will be of less speed so that the fingers ofthe detector will be rotated at their slowest operative speed when thecarrier is stopped, thereby providing for a maximum period of timewithin which the accumulations may be taken up by the threshing cylinderbefore materially affecting the stop condition of the carrier.Obviously, the restoration of normal conditions in the throat of thethreshing field acts to shift the member 39 and thereby increase thespeed of rotation of the detector fingers in ratio with the increase inspeed of the grain carrier.

By this construction it will be understood that the constant speed ofthe cylinder remains practically unchanged during operation; that thefeed of the grain to the cylinder and concave can take place only aftera predetermined speed of rotation of the cyl-.

inder has been reached; that the detector mechanism is operativelydriven whenever the speed of rotation of-the cylinder is suflioient toprovide contact between the members 30 and 39, irrespective of the feedmovement of the grain carrier, but that movements of the grain carrierand of the detector mechanism will be at a constant ratio whenever thegrain carrier is being operated; and that a single detecting mechanismoperates through a single arm to provide for variations in the speedmovement of the grain carrier and also an actual stop page of suchmovement without affecting the drive connection between the threshingcylinder and the detector.

For convenience of storing and for otherreasons, the frame of the graincarrier is made in two parts, as shown in Fig. 1, arranged to be folded.The frame is divided on the line 86, the two parts being joined by hingemembers 87, connected by a pintle 88 in the form of a cross-shaft. Themain portion 23 of the frame is provided with side braces 90 to which,and to a member 91 on: the outer end 89 of the frame, is pivoted theouter end of a two-part strut member 92, the inner ends of said partsbeing pivoted together and to one end of a link 93, the opposite end ofwhich is in turn pivoted on a handle 94 carried by the pintle or shaft88. The handle and link together form a toggle by means of which thestrut 92 is moved. A latch 95 and a toothed segment 96 regulate theposition of the handle, and through the toggle, of the strut 92. Theprinclpal object of these parts is to cause the two parts of the frameto lie close together on the line 89 when the feeding mechanism isbrought into operation, and also to take up wear.

While I have herein disclosed the driving mechanism for the shaft 44 asa worm and worm wheel connection, it is to be understood that this isillustrative, as, under certain conditions, such connection might bedisadvantageous owing to the liability of Wear being too excessive. Itis to be understood that any preferred type of operative connectingmechanism may be employed at this point, one form contemplated being theuse of beveled gears carried respectively by the shafts 36 and 44%. Assuch conditions are not especially present in connection with thedetector mechanism, I prefer to employ the worm and worm wheelconnection shown at this point.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 2- 1. Thecombination with a threshing cylinder and concave, of a grain carrieradapted to deliver to the throat of said concave, a continuouslyrotatable means including independently pivoted members extending intothe path of movement of the grain in juxtaposition to said throat andactuated by the grain, and means controlled by the independent movementof each of said pivoted members for varying the speed and interruptingthe movement of the grain carrier.

2. The combination witha threshing cylinder and concave, of a graincarrier adapted to deliver to the throat of said concave, a rotatabledetecting mechanism including independently pivoted members, the latterextending into the path of movement of the grain in juxtaposition tosaid throat and movable on their pivots when pressing against the grainin a direction opposite the rotary movement of the detecting mechanism,and means positively actuated by said members for controlling the speedof movement of the carrier.

3. The combination with a threshing cylinder and aconcave. of a graincarrier adapted to deliver to the throat of said concave, a continuouslyrotatable detecting mechanism. fingers independently pivoted thereon andforming a part of the same extending into the path of movement of thegrain in juxtaposition to said throat and movable by the grain in adirection opposite the rotary movement of the detecting mechanism, aspeed-changing device for the grain carrier, means movable positively bythe swinging of said fingers on their pivots, and a connection betweensaid means and the speed-changing device for actuating the same.

4. The combination with a threshing cvlinder and a concave. of a graincarrier adapted to deliver to the throat of said concave,- acontinuouslv rotatable detecting mechanism. fingers independentlypivoted thereon and forming a part of the same extending into the pathof movement of the grain in juxtaposition to said throat and adapted tobe moved on their pivots in a direction opposite the rotarymovement ofthe detecting mechanism as grain gathers in said throat, an armextending laterally from each of said fingers, a run-way for said armshaving a movable portion actuated positively by the arms When thefingers are turned on their pivots, a variable speed driving gear forthe grain carrier and the detecting mechanism, and a connection betweensaid movable section of the run-way and the speed-changing device foroperating the same. 7

5. The combination with a threshing cylinder and a concave, of a graincarrier adapted to deliver to the throat of said concave, rotatabledetecting mechanism including yieldable fingers mounted on and rotatabletherewith and adapted to extend in their rotation into the path ofmovement of the grain, an arm extending laterally from each of saidfingers, a run-way for said arms having a movable side actuatedpositively by the arms when the fingers are turned on their pivots, aclutch normally connecting the grain carrier with its driving mechanism,a variable speed-driving gear for the grain carrier and the controllingmechanism, and an operative connection from the movable section of therun-way to the clutch and the speed-changing device.

6. The combination with a threshing cylinder and a concave, of a graincarrier adapted to deliver to the throat of said concave, a rotatabledetecting mechanism for controlling the movement of the carrier, saidmechanism including a plurality of fingers carried by and spaced incircumferential succession on a rotatable member, each finger beingindependently yieldable in a direction opposite its rotation, a variablespeed-driving fear for the grain carrier and the detecting mechanism,and means actuated by the movements of the vfingers for varying thespeed and controlling the movement of the carrier.

7. The combination with a threshing cylinder and a concave, of a graincarrier adapted to. deliver tothe throat of said concave, and arotatable detecting mechanism for controlling the movement of thecarrier, said mechanism including a plurality of fingers carried by andspaced in circumferential succession on a rotatable member, each fingerbeing independently yieldable in a direction opposite its rotation, andmeans controlled positively by the independent movements of the fingersfor varying the speed and movement of the carrier, said means beingoperated to stop the movement of the carrier under abnormal conditionsin the throat of the threshing field without interrupting the rotationof the detecting mechanism.

8. The combination with a threshing cylinder and a concave, of a graincarrier adapted .to deliver to the throat of said concave, and arotatable detecting mechanism for controlling the movement of thecarrier, said mechanism including a plurality of independently yieldablefingers carried by and spaced. in circumferential succession on arotatable member, and means actuated by the yielding movements of thefingers for varying the speed of movement of the carrier and therotation of the detecting mechanism, an abnormal movement of saidfingers temporarily stopping the movement of the carrier withoutstopping the rotation of the detecting means, the time length ofstoppage being controlled by the fingers.

9. In a machine of the character described having a threshing cylinder,a grain car rier, and a threshing field, movement-controlling meanscomprising a speed-controlled device constant in movement, a coirtinuously rotatable detecting mechanism including a plurality ofindependently swinging fingers, driving connections from saidcontrolling device to the grain carrier and to the detecting mechanism,said fingers oi the detecting mechanism being actuated by the varyingconditions of the grain in the threshing throat, and means operated bysaid fingers for controlling said driving connections to stop, start,and change the speed of travel of the grain carrier, and

,vary the speed of rotation of the detecting mechanism.

10. In a controlling mechanism for grain carriers, movement-controllingmeans comprising a speed-controlled device constant in movement, acontinuously rotating mechanism including independently swingingdetecting fingers arranged to successively pass through the throat ofthe threshing field and be actuated by the grain therein, driveconnections from said speed-controlled device to the grain carrier andto the rotating mechanism, and a member positionable by the swinging ofsaid fingers and having positive connection with said drive connections,which connections are arranged to stop, start, and vary the speed oftravel of the grain carrier and of said rotating mechanism.

11. 'In a controlling mechanism for grain carriers, movement-controllingmeans comprising a speed-controlled device constant in movement, acontinuously rotating mechanism including independently swingingdetecting fingers subject to the grain conditions in the throat of thethreshing field and adapted to successively pass through said throat,drive connections from said speed-controlled device to the grain carrierand to the rotating mechanism, a member positionable by the swinging ofsaid fingers when moved by the grain in the throat and having a positiveconnection with said drive connections, an arm movable with said member,and a normally engaged clutch device without the drive connections, saidarm being movable so as to disengage the clutch device under abnormalconditions in the threshing field.

12. In a detecting mechanism for grain feed carriers, a constantlydriven rotatable member having a plurality of yieldable fingers incircumferential succession, a roller positionable by each finger, and aspeedcontrol element located in the path of travel of the rollers andadapted to be moved thereby under variations in feed conditions of thegrain to be t-hreshed.

13. In a detecting mechanism for grain feed carriers, a constantlydriven rotatable member having a plurality of rods each carrying afinger, an arm projecting from each rod and having a roller, a race-wayfor the rollers, and a speed-changing mechanism for the detectingmechanism and the grain feed carriers, said race-way having a yicldable'wall operatively connected to the speedchanging mechanism, said wallbeing posit-ionable by the rollers.

14. In combination with a movable grain carrier and speed-changingmembers, of a constantly driven rotatable member in the path of thegrain having a plurality of yieldable fingers in circumferentialsuccession, a roller positionable by each finger, a speed-controlelement located in the .path of travel in the rollers and adapted to bemoved thereby under variations of feed conditions in the grain to bethreshed, and a connection actuated by said element for operating saidspeed-changing members and arresting the movement of the grain carrier.

15. In a grain feed mechanism for threshing machines, a drive shaft, adriven shaft, a speed-change device between said shafts comprising twomembers, one of which members is longitudinally shiftable on the driveshaft into engagement with the other member by the controlling action ofa governing mechanism on said drive shaft, said other member beingloosely mounted for pivot-a1 movement on said driven shaft and having aconstant gear connection to said driven shaft, a grain carrier and acontinuously rotatable detecting mechanism driven by the driven shaft,connections between the detecting mechanism and the driven shaft memberof the speed-change device for swinging said member above the drivenshaft to vary the speed of said shaft, and a normally engaged clutchmechanism between the driven shaft and the driving shaft of the graincarrier adapted to be disengaged by the detecting mechanism underabnormal conditions of the grain to stop the movement of the graincarrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. STAUB. Witnesses:

ARTHUR L. BRYANT, I-IoRAoE G. Snrrz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

